FPA unveils planner award winners at Congress

The FPA has named its 2015 Financial Planner AFP of the Year Award and Certified Financial Planner Professional of the Year award at last week's FPA Professionals Congress held in Brisbane.

John Molnar from ipac South Australia was named winner of the 2015 FPA Financial Planner AFP of the Year Award.

Mr Molnar was recognised for demonstrating best practice in financial planning, achieving superior client outcomes and contributing to the local community.

FPA chief executive Mark Rantall said, "John has received this award because he upholds high professional and ethical standards, which means living up to the expectations of our profession, acting in the best interests of clients and providing the highest quality of financial advice."

"The FPA has long advocated higher standards of education and professionalism in financial planning, and part of that process is to recognise the achievements of our members. That's why it's such a pleasure to present this award to John," he said.

The FPA also named boutique practice owner Christopher Smith from Visis Private Wealth as the winner of the 2015 FPA Certified Financial Planner Professional of the Year award.

Mr Smith was recognised for embodying the highest professional standards and has delivered best practice advice that has led to superior client outcomes. According to Mr Rantall, he demonstrated true professional leadership and excellence, and a desire to go above and beyond for clients.

"Chris' commitment to professional standards, as embodied by the FPA Code of Professional Practice, and the quality of the financial advice he provides to his clients contributed to this award," he said.

Mr Smith also received the ifa Excellence Award earlier this year.

The theme of this year's FPA Professionals Congress was 'Shaping Futures', Mr Rantall said, adding that this is exactly what professional financial planners do every single day.

"That's why I am so pleased we can recognise someone like Chris, who has made such an outstanding contribution to our profession. The quality of his advice has already shaped and improved the future of his clients, and I hope that he will be an inspiration to others.

"When we look for true excellence in financial planning, we look for the ability to provide clear, easily-understood advice, regardless of the complexity of an individual client's circumstances. And that's what we've seen in Chris," he said.

Mr Smith started Visis Private Wealth in 2001, with a view to upholding the values of excellence, integrity and knowledge and relying on these to underpin the delivery of high quality professional advice and service. His business model is based on the fundamental tenet that clients should have confidence in the objectivity of the advice they receive, as well as in the ethical and financial motives of the firm.

The FPA also named Natalie Cross of Griffith University as FPA University Student of the Year and Sunitha Chamala from BDO as winner of the Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award.

Ms Cross was chosen for her strong potential in the areas of accounting, banking and finance, while Ms Chamala was honoured for being the highest achieving student in the CFP Certification Program.

"Both are outstanding award recipients who will help lead their generation of professional financial planners to new heights of community recognition and respect," Mr Rantall said.